Following extensive work and consultation, Ramblers have launched a major revamp of the approach to walk leadership across the organisation. All the national information about leading Ramblers walks can now be found under the new “Walk Leadership” section on the Ramblers website.
We are in the process of updating our local group guidance, but there are two main points to be aware of:
From 15th May 2024, new walk leaders must read a new “Walk Leader Handbook” and complete two e-learning modules (“Walk Leadership Foundations” and “Preventing and Managing Incidents”) before leading their first walk. These modules take about an hour each, and are free for Ramblers members. Existing leaders are not required to complete these, but may still find them helpful.
Individual written risk assessments for each walk are no longer required, but leaders should still consider the potential risks on their walks and any steps to manage them.
If you have any questions, please either This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or speak to me on a walk.
We will embark on this thrilling challenge spread across four weekends, where we’ll traverse this iconic trail, immersing ourselves in the stunning landscapes.
What is the South Downs Way?
The South Downs Way is a long-distance footpath in Southern England, stretching approximately 100 miles (160 kilometers) from Winchester in Hampshire to Eastbourne in East Sussex. It follows the line of chalk hills known as the South Downs, offering stunning views of the English Channel, rolling countryside, and picturesque villages along the way.
The trail passes through two Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs): the South Downs National Park and the Sussex Downs AONB. It offers a diverse range of landscapes, including open grasslands, woodlands, and dramatic chalk cliffs, as well as historic sites such as Iron Age hill forts and medieval villages.
Established as a National Trail in 1972, the South Downs Way attracts hikers, cyclists, and horse riders seeking to explore the natural beauty and cultural heritage of the South Downs region. It is well-signposted and offers a variety of accommodations and amenities along the route, making it accessible to adventurers of all levels of experience.
Photo credit: Tom H
How hard is it?
The terrain is predominantly rolling hills and gentle slopes, with some steeper ascents and descents in certain sections. While the overall elevation gain is not extreme, the distance can be demanding as most days will be between 12 and 16 miles, and more demanding if carrying heavy bags if camping. Please refer to the event pages on Meetup for the details for each day’s walk and to prepare for what lies ahead.
Transport and Accommodation:
For those seeking to get fully immersed in this experience, there’s the option to arrange your own accommodation or camping for Saturday evenings. This is what I will be doing. The details for public transport are available on the Meetup event pages.
So, lace up your boots, pack your sense of adventure, and join us as we take on this unforgettable journey along the South Downs Way.
As in previous years, the Berkshire Walkers are hosting a Winter Staycation over the period between Christmas and New Year for those who are around. Due to the timing of the weeks this year, this will be shorter than in previous years, running from Wednesday 27th December to Monday 1st January inclusive.
This will consists of walks in our local areas on most of these days, plus the December instance of our regular pub social. Do come and join us for any or all of these events if you’re around!
1st (Monday, New Year’s Day): First steps of 2024…(Midgham/Woolhampton, 5 miles – Tom)
We hope to continue a normal programme of weekend walks from the following weekend (6th/7th January). Do get in touch with the This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. as usual if you’re able to lead one.
To be a Ramblers walk leader, you don’t need to have completed any official training. Ramblers do provide some guidance, and as a group, we run walk leader training sessions every now and then. However, a few of you have asked me about the walk leader qualification I’ve been working towards over the last year, so I thought I’d write a blog post describing what it is and how it works.
Mountain Training & Qualification Types
Mountain Training is the awarding body for skills courses and qualifications in walking, climbing, and mountaineering across the UK and Ireland. This is linked to the Mountain Training Association, which is a membership organisation for climbing, walking and mountain leaders in the UK and Ireland.
Mountain Training is the collection of Mountain Training boards (e.g. MT England), plus the Mountain Training Association.
Mountain Training administer 16 qualifications – see the infographic below with the various walking qualifications. You can choose to start with any of the first three qualifications: Lowland Leader, Hill & Moorland Leader or Mountain Leader.
I’m sure many people reading this will be interested in the higher qualifications of Mountain Leader or Hill and Moorland Leader. However, to gain the qualification you need at least 20 days experience leading walks in the area you want to qualify for. Almost all local walks in Berkshire would fall under experience for the Lowland Leader qualification.
Infographic produced by Mountain Training showing the different walking-related qualifications they administer.
What does the Lowland Leader qualification involve?
There are 6 steps to gaining the Lowland Leader qualification.
1. Sign up for the award on the Mountain Training website.
Simply create an account on the Mountain Training website and pay the award fee, which is currently £49.
2. Record at least 10 days quality experience leading walks in lowland terrain.
Once you have signed up to the award, there’s a section of the Mountain Training website called the “DLOG”. This is where you record your experience. The days have to be “Quality Lowland Days”, which really means that you have to have learned something from the experience.
It can be a bit of a faff to add the walks, unless you pay to join the Mountain Training Association (£39 per year), which gives you access to premium features, and you can then simply upload a .GPX file, and the whole process is much easier.
3. Attend a Lowland Leader training course.
Mountain Training has a course list which makes finding a course to attend very straightforward. However, most of the providers across the UK are focused in the most popular areas for walking, namely the Peak District, Lake District and Snowdonia. I had to wait nearly 6 months to find a course nearby, which was also public transport accessible. In the end, I attended a course with Wild Heather in Marlow, and I highly recommend her!
The course lasts 16 hours over two days and covers the basics of navigating and leading groups. Our course simply felt like two BW walks back-to-back: a relaxed hike with a bit of talking about walking at pubs and cafes along the way, and I found it very interesting to hear what our instructor and the other course participants had to say. I was also pleasantly surprised to find that the syllabus covered much more than just navigation skills: we learnt lots about how to manage groups of walkers with different abilities and interests.
For reference, my course cost £150, but they range between £120-£200 depending on the provider.
A few snaps of our Lowland Leader course with Wild Heather (from Instagram).
4. Attend a 16-hour outdoor first aid course.
Finding a 16-hour first aid course was much harder than finding a lowland leader course. There are many different awarding bodies, and no comprehensive listing of providers or courses. The ITC First website had the biggest course list I could find, so I ended up attending two different courses (long story) which were ITC First accredited. I had very different experiences on the two courses I went to, but they both involved a lot of role-play and practical activities. These first aid courses cost around £130 upwards.
5. Record at least another 10 days quality experience leading walks in lowland terrain.
This is a chance for you to apply the knowledge you gained through the training course.
6. Finally, attend and pass a Lowland Leader assessment.
This assessment I attended had a very similar feel to the training course I attended, and again I recommend choosing Wild Heather to be your assessor! The difference, of course, was that we each were required to lead a 5km walk without any assistance. The assessment also lasted 16 hours spread over two days. The assessment I attended cost £155, but again, they range between £120 and £200.
A few snaps of our Lowland Leader assessment with Wild Heather (from Instagram).
Why become a Lowland Leader?
The candidates on my assessment and training course intended to use this qualification for a wide range of purposes. Several of them were completing the award to allow them to lead groups of students completing the Duke of Edinburgh Award. Some wanted to lead walks as part of their business, and others simply to bring people together.
Personally, I was curious to learn how our walk leading styles compared to the standards required for the award. When leading walks, I often worry about problems occurring, and how I would deal with these. I feel much happier with the knowledge that I’m doing all I can to avoid any such situations, and I now feel I’d be able to deal with it professionally if an incident should occur.
Would I recommend becoming a Lowland Leader?
I had an amazing experience completing the award, and I’ve met many like-minded people who share my love of walking. I feel like my confidence has grown substantially, as I have proof that I am capable of leading walks on my own, and I don’t need other people to be there to support me (though it’s always nice!). I wouldn’t say the award is necessary for being a Ramblers Walk Leader (it’s not cheap!), but I hope that the skills, experience, and confidence I have gained have made me a better leader. If you ever have the opportunity to do the lowland leader course or gain the lowland leader qualification, I’d encourage you to take it .
What happens in committee meetings stays in committee meetings… Or well, not. I mean, we are here to run the group for you, so maybe it’s time we started sharing with you what goes on when we meet up.
I won’t bore you with the ins and outs of the discussions, but here are your main take aways from our December meeting:
You don’t have to be on the committee to help out. Join the committee for a drink on Friday 19th January, and share your ideas and thoughts on the group. Details TBC.
There will be some awesome trips away next year. Zak, our walks coordinator, informed us that we have volunteers offering to lead trips to Pembrokeshire, Scotland AND the Lake District next year.
We are getting a new website. Will, our new website manager is already making progress on this. We’ve also got tech-savvy Chris on the committee to help now too.
We have some amazing volunteers. Jason, long-standing ex-committee member and walk leader extraordinaire, was presented with a certificate and fancy Ramblers badge at the Berkshire Area AGM. We have some nice BW prizes to give away to the winners of this year’s walking awards too!
The Ramblers App might work soon. Grant, our chair, has been talking to our Ramblers regional coordinator Nicky and fighting to get Ramblers Head Office to fix it. He’s also chosen to take on even more responsibility and become the Berkshire Area Secretary.
Our budget is in safe hands. Money goes in and out the bank account. Paul, our new treasurer, knows all about that now.
Georgia and Zak have both moved house. I’m not sure you technically needed to know this, but we enjoyed the virtual tours they gave us.
We’ve tested the pubs for the Christmas pub crawl. All of them. Chairman Grant did a very thorough recce for our Christmas pub crawl, whilst our social secretary Andrew has been busy organising the upcoming Christmas meal.
Chair & Area Representative – Grant A – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Why I joined the BWs: I joined the BWs to get out and explore an area which I had not walked before, since I’m based in Oxford and to improve my fitness whilst making new friends.
My favourite place in Berkshire: Definitely anywhere around Goring and Streatley, it has such wonderful hills and some excellent country pubs for a refreshment.
My favourite place in the country to walk: Most definitely the Lake District and discovering those smaller and less well known places like Elterwater and Esthwaite Water.
My top tip for new walkers: Invest in a good pair of socks which provide cushioning & temperature management but are also right for the season (thicker in winter, thinner in summer).
My responsibilities: To make sure that each committee meeting is planned effectively, conducted according to the constitution and that matters are dealt with in an orderly, efficient manner. I also am there to support the other committee members to bring their ideas to fruition.
Membership – Tom H –This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
About me: I’m Tom and I’m now the Membership Secretary. I’ve been in the Berkshire Walkers for seven years. When I joined, I’d just moved to Reading for work, and wanted to meet new people and explore the area. I’ve enjoyed walking in many parts of Berkshire since then, but my favourite would have to be the West Berkshire countryside around Aldermaston and Woolhampton. Further afield, I love the South West Coast Path, especially Cornwall. Away from walking, I am a keen swimmer, enjoy pub quizzes, watching sport, and learning about American history.
My tip for new walkers: Don’t worry and take things in your stride! You will likely surprise yourself with how much you can do. Apart from a good pair of boots, you don’t need any special equipment to start.
Social events – Andrew K – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
About me: I joined the BWs to get out and explore the local area, as well as meet like-minded walkers. My favourite place in Berkshire to walk is the area of the Chilterns around the Thames Path is both picturesque and easy to reach. My Favourite place in the country to walk is the New Forest which is lovely – I used to visit it a lot when I was younger.
My top tip for new walkers: Good boots are a must. You need boots you can trust to keep your feet dry and in good shape, so you can go walking in a range of conditions without worry.
My responsibilities: As Social Sec it’s my job to make sure that plenty of fun socials and activities to do with the group outside our usual walk calendar! Whether it’s pub/restaurant trips or bigger events like theatre/water park visits, I make sure that things get organised and advertised.
Walks co-ordinator – Zak –This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
About me: Having been a keen walker for many years, I joined the Berkshire Walkers and the Ramblers in January 2018, shortly after moving to Reading as a way of both exploring the area and making new friends, and the group has been very enjoyable in both respects. Having been on the committee as Membership Secretary for much of that time, I’ve now moved to the role of Walks Coordinator, which includes soliciting walks for the programme, trying to ensure we have a good balance and variety, keeping them up to date on the calendar, and encouraging and advising walk leaders new and old. I also regularly lead walks myself, and am Ramblers Area Secretary for Berkshire.
My favourite places to walk: My favourite walking in Britain tends to be in more remote and mountain areas like the Scottish Highlands, and so some of the events I enjoy most with the group are our longer trips away. More locally, I tend to be drawn to the hillier bits of our area – within the county that’s mostly West Berkshire, or just outside the county in the North Downs or Chilterns.
Secretary – Shannon – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
About me: I joined the BWs after the first lockdown, and I’ve enjoyed getting out walking and meeting everyone Being on the committee has been great fun – I’m now the website officer, and I’m hoping to give our site a revamp this year! I have a lot to learn, so please bear with me if things go wrong! I enjoy a good debate , trips to the cinema and exploring new places .
Marketing – Georgia – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
About me: Growing up, my nan would take me on long walks with her dogs in the countryside; when I moved county, my nan recommended the Ramblers Association as a means of continuing my love of walking. I joined the Berkshire Walkers to continue this passion and have made a lot of friends and found a lot of walking routes in a place that was entirely new to me.
My favourite place in Berkshire: I love so many parts of Berkshire (particularly any smaller villages as they have so much community), but I have to be biased and say Newbury
My favourite place in the country to walk: Anywhere new that has countryside, rivers, woodlands and/or cafes and pubs! I have recently enjoyed a few BW trips in the Peak Districts, Isle of Wight and York.
My top tip for new walkers: Just go for it! When I first turned up to the walks, I had a handbag, a pair of converse, no water bottle (I do not advise this) and a packet of sweets for lunch! You don’t have to have all the fancy equipment to get started. Also, get involved as quickly as you can, try and lead a walk, even if it’s not a complicated route.
Treasurer – Paul –
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Website – Will –
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Ordinary Member – Chris – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Now that many of our walks have grown from their pandemic-limited numbers back to the more traditional size that members from before 2020 will remember, and sometimes beyond with a thriving number of new members, it’s worth taking a moment to remember the challenges this brings and how everyone who walks regularly with the group can help, whether you lead walks or not.
Back-markers are one of the key ways we make sure that no one gets left behind or lost off the back of a group. The back-marker is someone who walks at the back of the group, and can alert the walk leader to wait if the back of the group drops too far behind, or any problems occur out of sight of the leader. They can either be appointed by the walk leader in advance or (more commonly in our group) someone who volunteers on the day (although they must be a Ramblers member for insurance reasons).
If you’re leading a walk with more than about 15 people though, or through dense woodland or other terrain that’s difficult or has limited visibility, I would strongly suggest asking for one. It’s much easier to make sure you can see your back-marker, than to keep counting everyone behind you while you’re on the move. (Though it’s still worth counting from time to time when you stop – especially when leaving a pub stop for example, where someone might still be in the toilets!) If you’re out of sight of one another for more than a short time, then the group is probably getting too spread out and it’s a good idea to slow down or wait. Make sure that you have each other’s mobile number, and ideally that the back-marker knows the route, in case the worst happens and you do get separated.
If you come on walks regularly, please do volunteer to back-mark from time to time when the leader asks for someone, whatever your natural pace within the group – it’s an important role but not a difficult one, and it’s not fair to leave it to the same few people to do this all the time! It’s also possible to split the role, e.g. with one person back-marking before lunch and another afterwards, allowing you both time to mingle with the rest of the group.
As a back-marker, some of the key things to remember are:
keep an eye on where the rest of the group is going ahead of you, in case they go out of sight briefly;
be aware if the back section of the group is getting too far behind those in front, and alert the walk leader they may need to slow the pace or wait (though the leader should also be looking back themselves to check they can still see you);
ensure anyone who is struggling with the pace of the walk is not left on their own at the back;
be aware if anyone drops behind for a comfort break in the bushes, and make sure they return.
Occasionally, with a very large group or in particularly challenging environments where it’s hard for the leader and back-marker to keep in sight, it may be helpful to appoint a “mid-marker” as well, who walks in the middle of the group and can pass signals along if needed.
Feel free to ask if you have any questions about back-marking though!
— Zak (Walks Coordinator) with thanks to stalwart backmarker Steve for additional points
Yesterday 11 members of the group attended a first aid course funded by Berkshire Area Ramblers. We were reminded by our first aid instructor just how important having emergency contact details / medical details available to first aiders / emergency services really is.
Mobile Phone
Thankfully the technical wizards have invented a way that you can store this information on your mobile phone which is accessible in case of emergency. Please take a moment to cross check your information is up to date even if you have done this previously.
If you have an APPLE phone you can find the IOS steps here to setup your “Medical ID” and your “Emergency Contacts“
For other Phones: You can also check your Phones Manufacturer Website / Handbook.
Traditional / Backup Option
For those who want a more traditional option you can use the Ramblers ICE card template below that you can print yourself or ask a committee member on your next walk incase we have any spare available.
Our AGM is now just round the corner on the 21st October 2023 at RISC (2pm to 4pm) so I’m writing to update you on the finalised committee role descriptions and how you can sign up to register your interest.
I’ve mapped out the process from here on in if you are interested in volunteering to help run the group.
Step 1: Have a look at the finalised role descriptions here if you are curious upon reading the role description and want to see the current committee in action, please join the committee meeting next week – details here.
Step 2: Register your intention to volunteer for a committee role via the form here by 8th October 2023, note you will need two members support to join the future committee, the first member proposes you for the role you are interested and the second member, seconds the nomination (i.e. also gives their support).
Step 3: Candidates submitted prior to the 8th October 2023, will proceed to feature in an online election which will open on the 9th October 2023, the results of which will be reviewed at the AGM on the 21st October 2023 (this being said, most roles are often uncontested featuring only one candidate).
Step 4: Attend the AGM and if you have received the majority vote you will be duly elected into the role for a period of 1 year until the next AGM.
Step 5: If there are any unfulfilled roles recorded at the AGM, members may step forward during the meeting to put themselves forward, if there are no volunteers the committee will decide how and when the roles should be fulfilled during the committee year as per the Berkshire Walkers constitution.
If you are not sure you would be able to commit to a whole role but are still interested in helping out, then you can include a note with your submission under the question “Reason for Standing for Position” indicating you would be open to share a particular role with another person.
If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to speak to a committee member or email me directly This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
A group such as ours can only keep running thanks to the efforts of its volunteers, and especially the walk leaders who contribute to the programme each week. We’re always keen to encourage and support new walk leaders to get started, both to ensure the group is in good shape for the future, and because leading walks can be a very rewarding experience.
Although our approach is generally that walk leading is something that anyone can do rather than the preserve of a special few, we realise that it can seem daunting at first without good support. To this end, we’ve recently refreshed our guidance for walk leaders covering a range of topics from planning a walk to dealing with anything that goes wrong. (While particularly relevant to new leaders, existing ones are also encouraged to have a look as it may cover points that you haven’t had to consider so far.)
While we hope this will help to clarify many aspects of what’s involved in leading walks, there is no substitute for either talking to those who do it regularly, or gaining hands-on experience yourself. With this in mind, we’re running a couple of events over the next month (you’re welcome to come to one or both).
If you’re thinking about leading for the first time, have led one or two but would like to gain more confidence, or are a regular leader happy to share ideas and experience, please come along if you can. If you’re interested but can’t make these dates then don’t worry as we hope to repeat them.
7pm Reading Biscuit Factory – all welcome, no sign-up required
This is an opportunity to get an explanation of some of the basics from experienced leaders, and ask any questions you might have. It will also be a chance for both new and existing leaders to share and discuss potential route ideas and perhaps buddy up to lead some of them.
This will be a much more practical session, most of it taking place in the course of a shortish circular walk, during which we will stop to tackle various leading concepts along the way, with everyone having the opportunity to practice leading the group along part of the route.
Winter Staycation 
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, trips to the cinema 
and exploring new places 
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